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The Olympic Logo: The Fans Can Do Better

I’m sure you’ve all seen the Olympic Logo. Let us feast our eyes on its glory once more for clarification.

via the Guardian

People have made a lot of comments on what they look like, from dirty jokes that will never leave your mind once you hear them to the fact that commercials with them actually have caused seizures to Iran, which at one point insisted the logo was racist as it spelled out “Zion,” and that they would be boycotting the Olympics. Then the IOC was like “Oh REALLY?” and, well, Iran is not boycotting the Olympics.

But here’s what the logo isn’t: sporty or sports-related; representational of the host country in the least; specialized towards the Olympics (barring the logo); pretty.

This is an international event. Everyone in the world is going to be looking at this. People in the future will look back on this event and see this. The UK government spent £400,000 on this. It certainly doesn’t look worth it, especially when you see the entries the BBC got when it asked the world for alternatives in 2007.

Of course it’s recycled rather than trashed.

Pana M was obviously unhappy: “What a waste of effort and money! This logo can only be used to promote recycling.”

Not the prettiest, but I love this guy’s sentiment.

James Nelhams was unimpressed at this government funding: “I saw you report on the News and was absolutely appalled that the Olympic Commission are wasting my taxpayer’s money designing such a monstrosity. I’ve seen nicer looking graffiti on the side of a tube train.”

I Olympic Your London, Indeed, Bethany

Bethany Hutchinson, aged 11, sent in this design, proving 11-year-olds are just cooler than everyone else.

Ewen Dickie’s design

Ewen Dickie was annoyed at the pandering to the youth in a country where the median age is 40: “My attempt is a reaction against the forced sense of youthfulness that plagues the current effort. I wanted something that would please my Gran and my Queen, as well as placate my fellow citizens who live outside London.”

It’s no Man Ray, but it’s quite pretty

Luigi Spotorno tried some symbols: “Allow me to introduce my contribution to the London 2012 Olympics. The symbolic effect of the Olympic torch is very appropriate to the aims of the Olympics. Of course it is only a napkin.”

Cabbie design!

Oliver Gibson had a lovely thought — why not actually evoke a sentiment? “My quick attempt at doing an Olympics Logo. I thought of London. I thought of cabs. My motto for the games – ‘Transporting you to a place where you can see the world in one stadium.'”

The logo obviously means a lot of things to a lot of people — or it could’ve, with a bit more work and less money. Instead, it’s representative of the fact that the LOCOG is trying something with the Olympics that no one really understands, especially the pandering to the youth.